Red Roses sweep Canada series at Twickenham

England completed a 3-0 series sweep of Canada as they romped to a 69-19 victory at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. The 11-try effort makes it a combined 197 points for while conceding 36 across the three games played in eight days.

It was the return of new stars Jess Breach and Abby Dow on the wings that grabbed the most headlines. After scoring six and two tries respectively in their test debuts at Allianz Park they once again combined for eight between them, this time Breach crossing on five occasions and Dow grabbing a first half hat trick in an awesome display of attacking firepower.

Now with an astonishing 11 tries in only two internationals, Breach showed time again why she is set to take the women’s game by storm. A superstar in the making, her breathtaking acceleration and footwork left Canadian defenders stumbling over their feet on more than one occasion. Dow is more direct of the two, barreling and fending straight through three players on her way to her second score.

Canada did at least manage to grab three tries, one a penalty. In doing so they have improved incrementally in each game, scoring one in the first test and two in the second. Olivia DeMerchant crashed over in the first half and Pam Buisa burst on to a Janna Slevinsky pass to break away for a try early in the second half.

The Red Roses now have a few weeks off before re-convening to prepare for the Six Nations tournament in February. Canada’s young team will head home with many lessons learned, some pitching up for their winter club rugby on the west coast while others putting the boots on the shelf until spring.

 

SCORING

ENGLAND 69
Tries – M. Packer (4′), A. Dow 3 (9′, 23′, 34′), J. Breach 5 (13′, 40′, 57′, 69′, 75′), Penalty try (50′), E. Kildunne (80′)
Cons – K. Mclean 6/10 (5′, 10′, 14′, 35′, 58′, 70′)
Yellow cards – E. Kildunne (58′)

CANADA 19
Tries – O. DeMerchant (18′), P. Buisa (47′), Penalty try (58′)
Cons – B. Miller 1/2 (19′)

 

TEAMS

ENGLAND
1 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Heather Kerr, 4 Abbie Scott, 5 Poppy Cleall, 6 Rowena Burnfield, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Katy Mclean, 11 Jess Breach, 12 Rachael Burford, 13 Lagi Tuima, 14 Abby Dow, 15 Danielle Waterman

Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Rochelle Clark, 18 Justine Lucas, 19 Catherine O’Donnell, 20 Izzy Noel-Smith, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Ellie Kildunne

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laura Russell (capt.), 6 Janna Slevinsky, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Pam Buisa, 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Anaïs Holly, 11 Emma Jada, 12 Emily Belchos, 13 Dria Bennett, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Brianna Miller

Replacements: 16 Emily Barber, 17 Alex Ellis, 18 Veronica Harrigan, 19 McKinley Hunt, 20 Emilie Nicholl, 21 Courtney Holtkamp, 22 Jess Neilson, 23 Sam Alli

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tim Baker (HKRFU)
Assistants: Laura Pettingale (RFU) & Sarah Toll (RFU)
TMO: David Sainsbury (RFU)